On Saturday, Bay Area residents witnessed an extraordinary sight – as two military planes were seen soaring through the skies. With over 32 military bases scattered across California, sightings of military aircraft are not uncommon; however, the appearance of these colossal planes from the past can be considered a rare treat.

The image was first posted on Reddit by a user who spotted the planes and had this to say: “Hey gang, I walk my dog every weekend along Half Moon Bay and these cool dudes routinely fly Hellcats/Mustangs/Corsairs over the area. I’m a huge aeronautical nerd and want to see these things up close. Does anyone know where they fly out of? Mad kudos to them for keeping 80+ year old planes airworthy!”

It is believed that the one plane is a U-2 which has a very interesting history. It was first developed in the 1950s and was used during the Cold War to spy on the Soviet Union and other countries. The cost of a U-2 is classified, but estimates range from $180 million to $550 million per plane. Its purpose is to collect intelligence information through photography, signals intelligence, and other methods.

The U-2 has been a critical asset for the U.S. military for decades, providing valuable intelligence information for national security. It’s an iconic aircraft that has earned a place in the history books.